Into midstream. The chambermaid found her sitting on the chai

[Seti <bes...@ka...>]

K God my mama had only me, if papa's second wife had to have so many.
And so naughty! I assure you, they were all devils; and no correction,
no punishment, no education--but you know Clementine! I tell you,
sometimes on account of those children I used to think myself in 'ell
[making the Creole's attempt and failure to pronounce the h], and
Clementine had no pride about them. If they had shoes, well; if they had
not shoes, well also. [Illustration] "'But Clementine!' I would
expostulate, I would pray-- "'But do not be a fool, Mimi,' she would
say. 'Am I God? Can I do miracles? Or must I humiliate your papa?' "That
was true. Poor papa! It would have humiliated papa. When he had money he
gave; only it was a pity he had no money. As for what he observed, he
thought it was Clementine's negligence. For, it is true, Clementine had
no order, no industry, in the best of fortune as in the worst. But to do
her justice, it was not her fault this time, only she let him believe
it, to save his pride; and Clementine, you know, has a genius for
stories. I assure you, Louise, I was desperate. I prayed to God to help
me, to advise me. I could not teach--I had no education; I could not go
into a shop--that would be dishonoring papa--and _enfin_, I was too
pretty. 'And proclaim to the world,' Clementine would cry, 'that your
papa does not make money for his family.' That was true. The world is so
malicious. You know, Louise, sometimes it seems to me the world is glad
to hear that a man cannot support his family; it compliments those who
can. As if papa had not intelligence, and honor, and honesty! But they
do not count now as in old times, 'before the war.' "And so, when I
thought of that, I laughed and talked and played the thoughtless like
Clementine, and made bills. We made bills--we had to--for everything; we
could do that, you know, on our old name and family. But it is too long!
I am sure it is too long and tiresome! What egotism on my part! Come, we
will take a glass of anisette, and talk of something else--your trip,
your family. No? no? You are only asking me out of politeness! You are
so _aimable_, so kind. Well, if you are not _ennuyee_--in fact, I want
to tell you. It was too long to write, and I detest a pen. To me there
is no instrument of torture like a pen. "Well, the lady next door, she
was an American, and common, very common, accordin